Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology SAS
Topic
Transnational families in Central Europe in the 21st century
PhD. program
World Cultures and Religions, Faculty of Arts, Comenius University
Year of admission
2026
Name of the supervisor
Mgr. Martina Wilsch, PhD.
Contact:
Receiving school
Filozofická fakulta UK
Annotation
Families and family structures have been evolving and adapting to new societal challenges. With increased mobility and modern technologies, many families live apart in different, often multiple, countries over the long term, yet maintain strong relationships, familyhood, and a sense of belonging (Bryceson & Vuorela, 2002; Cienfuegos-Illanes & Brandhorst, 2023). Research within this topic will focus on these families’ transnational practices, including (but not limited to) care and social support, economic participation, the transmission of cultural practices, communication, and the broader context of the transnational circulation of care (including paid care), as well as the overall situation and vulnerability of these families. Depending on the researcher’s interests and chosen approach, the research project may encompass diverse types of families, such as Slovak families with members working abroad (e.g., care workers), families fleeing the war in Ukraine, or families of economic migrants who are increasingly settling in Slovakia. A multi-sited ethnographic approach (Marcus, 1995), participatory research methods, and reflexive approaches are encouraged, alongside the application of theoretical perspectives from the anthropology of care, migration studies, gender perspectives, and feminist theories.